The top 25 free agents this offseason

The top 25 free agents this offseason

December 18th, 2024

At the start of the offseason, MLB.com ranked the top 25 free agents who were expected to have the biggest impact on the Hot Stove season.

You can find those rankings below. We'll be updating the list with completed deals throughout the offseason.

1) Juan Soto, OF (age: 26)^ -- signed 15-year, $765 million deal with Mets

It’s extremely rare for a player of Soto’s caliber to reach free agency before his age-26 season, making the four-time All-Star a bit of a Hot Stove unicorn. Bryce Harper and Manny Machado were in similar situations after the 2018 season and each cashed in with free-agent deals worth at least $300 million. Soto’s price tag should be significantly higher -- especially after a strong postseason performance that helped propel the Yankees to the World Series -- with most industry insiders projecting a deal of at least 10 years and $500 million.

Potential fits: Giants, Mets, Yankees

2) Corbin Burnes, RHP (age: 30)^

Burnes was everything the Orioles could have hoped for in 2024, giving Baltimore the workhorse ace it had been seeking. Burnes threw a gem in his lone postseason start for the Orioles, who are likely to do everything they can to keep the four-time All-Star and 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner. The right-hander should land his fifth straight top 10 Cy Young finish this year, and he will be the most sought-after starting pitcher this winter.

Potential fits: Mets, Orioles, Red Sox

3) RHP (age: 23)

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s move to the Majors caused a bidding war last offseason, and while the potential of Sasaki coming over from Japan will carry the same excitement factor, his age will prevent a similar free-agent frenzy. Players younger than 25 years old who have not reached six years of service in a foreign major league are subject to MLB's international amateur signing bonus pool rules, setting a cap on their contracts. Shohei Ohtani faced a similar situation in 2017, signing with the Angels for $2.315 million. Sasaki, who has a 2.02 ERA over his first four seasons in Japan, will become one of the top available starters once he is posted.

Potential fits: Dodgers, Padres, Yankees

4) Blake Snell, LHP (age: 32) -- signed 5-year, $182 million deal with Dodgers

Snell has already opted out of his contract with the Giants and is testing free agency for the second year in a row. He struggled to find the deal he wanted after winning his second career Cy Young Award. So the southpaw signed a two-year, $62 million contract with the Giants, then he went 0-3 with a 9.51 ERA in six starts during an injury-riddled first half of 2024. After returning on July 9, Snell went 5-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 14 starts, a run that will likely make him much more desirable than last offseason, when compensation was tied to his free agency.

Potential fits: Giants, Padres, Rangers

5) Alex Bregman, 3B (age: 31)^

Bregman’s breakout seasons in 2018-19 saw him average 36 home runs, 108 RBIs and a .970 OPS, and he finished in the top five of AL MVP voting in both years. He hasn’t reached those levels since then, though he remains one of the most productive third basemen in baseball. Bregman’s platform year got off to a slow start (.206 average, four home runs and a .589 OPS through his first 51 games), but he hit .288 with 22 home runs and an .862 OPS over his final 94 contests. The Astros have talked about keeping Bregman in Houston, but there should be a number of suitors trying to sign him.

Potential fits: Astros, D-backs, Mariners

6) Max Fried, LHP (age: 31)^ -- signed 8-year, $218 million deal with Yankees

Fried is one of the few homegrown Braves who never signed a long-term extension, which will send him to the free-agent market following his second All-Star campaign in three years. The left-hander’s 3.25 ERA in 29 starts was actually his highest since 2019, but Fried -- a three-time NL Gold Glove winner -- is one of the top starting pitchers available this winter.

Potential fits: Cubs, Padres, Rangers

7) Anthony Santander, OF (age: 30)^

Santander has been a solid player for several years, but he picked the right time to have a career-best season. A first-time All-Star this year, Santander set career highs with 44 home runs and 102 RBIs, while his .814 OPS was his highest in a 162-game season. As much as he’s meant to the Orioles, Santander is likely to wind up elsewhere, as Baltimore has a wealth of young outfield talent and a number of clubs will seek a power-hitting corner outfielder.

Potential fits: Blue Jays, Guardians, Phillies

8) Pete Alonso, 1B (age: 30)^

Alonso has been one of the most reliable power threats since he broke into the league in 2019, averaging 44 home runs per year in his first four 162-game seasons (he also hit 16 in 57 games during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign). Alonso had 34 homers while playing all 162 games in '24, hitting 15 of them in 67 games after the All-Star break. He also authored some memorable moments this postseason, none bigger than his series-winning home run against the Brewers in the NL Wild Card Series.

Potential fits: Astros, Mets, Yankees

9) Willy Adames, SS (age: 29)^ -- signed 7-year, $182 million deal with Giants

A number of top shortstops have hit free agency in recent years, with Corey Seager, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson all cashing in with big free-agent deals. Coming off another strong offensive season -- in which he set career highs with 32 home runs and 112 RBIs -- Adames is the top shortstop available this winter, and although his defensive metrics haven’t been as strong in 2024, he remains a solid fielder.

Potential fits: Blue Jays, Dodgers, Giants

10) Jack Flaherty, RHP (age: 29)

Flaherty’s first dalliance with free agency didn’t go well a year ago, as he bet on himself with a one-year, $14 million deal with the Tigers. His gamble paid off, as the right-hander pitched well in 18 starts with Detroit before being dealt to the Dodgers prior to the Trade Deadline. He went 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 10 regular-season starts for Los Angeles, helping the club reach the World Series, then had a great Game 1 start to further enhance his attractiveness. In a relatively thin starting pitching market -- albeit a top-heavy one -- Flaherty should be able to land the multiyear deal he struggled to find last offseason.

Potential fits: Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox

11) , LHP (age: 30)

Scott has developed into one of the best relievers in the game, earning his first All-Star selection earlier this summer. The left-hander posted a 1.75 ERA and 22 saves in 72 appearances between the Marlins and the Padres, putting him atop the list of free-agent relievers. Given the need for reliable relief pitching around the league, Scott should have plenty of suitors.

Potential fits: Blue Jays, Phillies, Yankees

12) , RHP (age: 30) -- signed 1-year, $10 million deal (plus a $16 million player option for 2026) with Guardians

Bieber’s 2024 season ended after only two starts, as the former AL Cy Young Award winner underwent Tommy John surgery and is expected to be sidelined until the middle of 2025. The right-hander could sign a backloaded, incentive-laden two-year deal as he returns from his elbow surgery.

Potential fits: Guardians, Rangers, Reds

13) , 1B (age: 34)^

Walker missed 32 games in 2024 due to an oblique injury, but he belted 26 homers in 130 games, posting his third straight season with an OPS north of .800. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner is the best all-around first baseman currently on the market, but he’ll be 34 next March, making a longer-term deal less likely.

Potential fits: Astros, Red Sox, Yankees

14) , RHP (age: 35) -- signed 3-year, $75 million deal with Rangers

Eovaldi earned a $20 million player option (which he declined) by throwing a combined 300 innings in 2023-24. After posting a sub-4.00 ERA for the fifth straight season, the veteran is taking his chances in free agency. Eovaldi has been an All-Star twice since 2021, and he is a proven postseason performer with a pair of World Series rings.

Potential fits: Braves, Orioles, Rangers

15) , OF (age: 32)^

Hernández’s numbers dipped for two straight seasons following his breakout 2021, but his move to Los Angeles agreed with him, as he whacked a career-high 33 home runs with 99 RBIs and an .840 OPS in 154 games, then starred in the postseason. Hernández declined two-year offers from other clubs to sign a one-year, $23.5 million deal with the Dodgers last winter, but entering his age-32 season, he figures to seek a multiyear contract this offseason.

Potential fits: Braves, Dodgers, Red Sox

16) , RHP (age: 33) -- signed 3-year, $51 million deal (plus a $14 million club option for 2028) with Royals

Wacha had a 3.35 ERA over a career-high 166 2/3 innings for the Royals in 2024, his third straight solid season for three different teams. The right-hander inked a two-year, $32 million deal with Kansas City last offseason and could have opted out to test the free-agent market, but he ended up signing a three-year contract to extend his stay with the Royals. The deal includes a club option for 2028.

17) , SS (age: 29)

Kim missed the final six weeks of the season with a right shoulder injury that required surgery, likely ending his four-year run in San Diego. A Gold Glove winner in 2023, Kim is the second-best shortstop available this offseason, and he should have suitors as long as the shoulder issue has been resolved.

Potential fits: Braves, Giants, Red Sox

18) , RHP (age: 32)

Estévez had a 2.45 ERA and 26 saves between the Angels and the Phillies in 2024, posting a sub-1.000 WHIP over 55 innings. He’s shown the ability to close or work as a setup man, but he should be one of the more coveted closers on the market this offseason.

Potential fits: Phillies, Royals, Yankees

19) , RHP (age: 32) -- signed 3-year, $38 million deal (includes opt-out after 2026) with Mets

Holmes’ walk year was a roller coaster, as the righty earned his second All-Star nod in three years with a strong first half, then lost his closer job in early September after suffering his 11th blown save of the season. But Holmes resurrected his value with a good finish and a solid postseason, putting him in line for a good deal this offseason.

Potential fits: Angels, Orioles, Phillies

20) , LHP (age: 34) -- signed 3-year, $63 million deal with Angels

The Astros paid a hefty price for Kikuchi at the Trade Deadline, a somewhat surprising development given his 4.75 ERA over 22 starts for Toronto. But the veteran lefty was stellar for Houston, going 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts, thrusting him back into the second level of free-agent starters.

21) , 2B (age: 28)

Torres struggled to find consistency throughout much of his platform season, but he finished with a flourish after being moved to the leadoff spot, hitting five homers with 18 RBIs and an .856 OPS over his final 31 games to carry momentum into the postseason, where he continued to perform well. In a free-agent market devoid of second-base talent, Torres should draw plenty of interest.

Potential fits: Mariners, Tigers, Yankees

22) , OF (age: 30) -- signed 3-year, $49.5 million deal (includes opt-out after 2025) with Orioles

A change of scenery proved to be the perfect tonic for O’Neill, who belted 31 home runs with an .847 OPS in 113 games for the Red Sox after a pair of down seasons with St. Louis in 2022-23. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner topped the 100-game mark for only the second time in his career, and his injury history might hamper his chances of securing a long-term contract.

Potential fits: Phillies, Red Sox, Royals

23) , LHP (age: 33)^

Manaea inked a two-year, $28 million deal with the Mets prior to last season, posting his best full-season numbers since 2018. The left-hander went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts, setting a new career high with 181 2/3 innings. Manaea is opting out of his contract, and Mets will likely give him a qualifying offer and could try to bring him back on a multiyear free-agent deal.

Potential fits: Braves, Mets, Red Sox

24) , RHP (age: 40)

The 40-year-old likely Hall of Famer has made only 17 starts since joining the Rangers at last year’s Trade Deadline, going 6-6 with a 3.57 ERA. Although Scherzer was limited to only 43 1/3 innings due to back and hamstring injuries in 2024, he believes he can still pitch at a high level when he’s healthy. Scherzer will obviously take a massive pay cut from the $43.3 million he earned last season, but he can still help most rotations around the league.

Potential fits: Braves, Brewers, Yankees

25) Jurickson Profar, LF (age: 32)

Profar enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, making his first All-Star team at age 31. His one-year, $1 million deal with the Padres proved to be one of the best signings of last offseason, as he hit 24 home runs with 85 RBIs and an .839 OPS in 158 games, though he stands to sign a much bigger deal this winter.

Potential fits: Giants, Padres, Phillies